Fork.



A. M. MOREAUX.

IQRK.

APPLIOATION IILED JUNE 16, 1910.

Patented July 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PMNOGRAPH KID-,WASHINOTON, n. c.

ACHILLE MARIE MOREAUX, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

FORK.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AOHILLE MARIE Moiuianx, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of 7 Rue Belloni, Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Forks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for object a masticating device which possesses as its characteristic feature the advantage of being able to transform itself automatically into a fork by means of pressure of the hand.

An example of this masticator is shown by way of example upon the annexed drawings, in which Figure l is a longitudinal section of the apparatus opened. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same closed. Fig. 3 is a front view. Fig. 4: is a section on line 44 of Fig. 1,

This masticat-ing fork is composedof two parts a and 6 preferably made of sheet steel, which are jointed upon a round-headed screw 0. The part a takes the general form of an ordinary fork having prongs (Z, for example four, between which there engage the shorter prongs e of the second part b to form the whole of the actual masticator while the long extremities of the prongs cl act as an ordinary fork.

Those parts of the prongs cl and e which act as the masticator are of section suited to that purpose.

In order to avoid separation of the prongs (Z and the consequent derangement of the apparatus, the prongs are tied together at (P. The parts a and b are normally held apart by a spring f. v

To prevent the hand from slipping and the user from pinching himself during the use of the masticating apparatus I have given the handle portions of the parts a and b the special shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that isthe handle portions are angled away from each other and their meeting edges spaced apart, so that when in operation and separated by the hook 70 there is ample finger room between the parts.

The round-headed screw upon which the device is jointed is fixed to the part b. The parts a and Z) are furnished with two rounded concentric portions 9 and h. The rounded portion 9 of the handle part a is guided between the rounded head of the screw 0 and the concentrically rounded part it of the handle-half b.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 16, 1910.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Serial No. 567,305.

The arrangement of the screw 0 has for object to bring the center of the joint outside the cutting angle formed by the prongs (Z and e, and this arrangement gives rise to an oblique out or drawing movement which prevents the material to be cut from escaping and also facilitates cutting.

The half 6 of the handle is furnished with a stud 2' acting by means of a spring j upon a hook 7c pivoted at Z. The extremity of the half a is furnished with a notch m intended to engage the book 7c of the part Z). During mastication the hook it strikes against the extremity of the part a and the device is thus prevented from closing. To effect this closing of the apparatus and so convert it into a fork when desired, it is suflicient to press upon the stud 2'. This causes a displacement of the hook 7a which allows it to enter the notch m when the stud is released.

Apart from the advantage resulting from its double function, this masticator possesses also, due to its curved shape, the advantage of cutting better than the ordinary masticators which are of straight shape.

It is to be understood that the spring f is not limited to the arrangement shown and also the method employed for permit:

ting the automatic connection of the parts a and Z) wit-h a view to holding the apparatus closed may be any desired.

The relative length of the prongs of the two parts a and b may also be as desired.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A device of the character described comprising relatively movable sets of intermeshing masticating prongs of substantially the same curvature so that they may be brought into register in closed position, the intermeshing prongs having their edges shaped to cooperate with shearing action with the prongs juxtaposed on each side thereof, one set of prongs projecting beyond the end of the other set to serve as fork tines in the closed position of the parts, substantially as described.

2. A device of the character described comprising two levers pivoted together, and comprising at one end cooperating handle members and at the other end intermeshing prongs, said prongs being shaped to cooperate with shearing action with the adj acent prongs on each side, one set of prongs projecting beyond the end of the other set to serve as fork tines in the closed position of the parts, substantially as described.

3. An implement of the character descritfed having relatively movable sets of masticat-ing prongs with cooperating shearing. edges, some of said prongs being of greater length than the-others and serving as fork tines when said prong sets are held against relative displacement, the prongs of said longer set being tied together at a point beyond the ends of the shorter set to prevent their spreading during the shearing action.

4. An implement of the character described having sets of relatively movable prongs with juxtaposed cooperating cutting edges for masticating purposes, the prongs of one of said sets being longer than those of the other, and serving as fork tines, said prongs being carried by parts pivotally connected together, the pivot joint comprising a round headed screw on one part, the other part having a guide slot throughwhich the stem of said screw passes, said parts having concentric bearing surfaces, substantially as described.

5. An implement of the character described having sets of relatively movable prongs with juxtaposed cooperating cutting edges for masticating purposes, the prongs of one of said sets being longer than those of the other, and serving as fork tines, said prongs being carried by parts pivotally connected together, the pivot joint comprising a round headed screw on one part, the other part having a guide slot through which the stem of said screw passes, said parts having concentric bearing surfaces, together with a concentric bearing surface for the rounded head of the screw.

6. An implement of the character described, having relatively movable masticating prongs, some of said prongs with cooperating shearing edges being of greater length than the others and serving as fork tines when the prongs are secured against relative movement, in combination with spring governed locking means for holding said prongs in closed position.

7. An implement of the character described, having relatively movable masticating prongs, some of said prongs with cooperating shearing edges being of greater length than the others and serving as fork tines when the prongs are secured against relative movement, in combination with spring governed locking means for holding said prongs in closed position, and means for readily controlling said spring locking means when closing said prongs.

S. A device of the character described comprising relatively movable sets of interengaging shearing prongs of substantially the same curvature so that they may be brought into register in closed position, one set of prongs being of greater length than the other and projecting beyond the latter in the closed position to serve as fork tines, together with means for tying together the free ends of said longer set of prongs to prevent their spread during shearing action.

9. A device of, the character described comprising relatively movable sets of interengaging shearing prongs of substantially the same curvature so that they may be brought into register in closed position, one set of prongs being of greater length than the other and projecting beyond the latter in the closed posit-ion to serve as fork tines, together with readily freed latching means for holding said prong sets in register, said latching means comprising a pivoted latch pin, a leaf spring jointed to said pin and holding it in engaging position, and a displaceable button engaging said spring and passing through the fork handle whereby said latch may be swung out of engaging position by pressure upon said spring.

10. A device of the character described comprising two levers pivoted together and forming a handle and a set of prongs rigid with each of said handle levers and interengaging to form cooperating masticating prongs, one set of prongs being longer than the other, together with means for holding said handle levers together, in which position the projecting ends of said longer set of prongs may serve as fork tines, the free ends of said longer set of prongs being tied together to prevent their spread during the shearing action, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ACHILLE MARIE MOREAUX.

Witnesses CHARLES DONY, LEoN PEILLET.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

